Olive Webb

Last updated

Olive Webb
Olive Webb.jpg
Webb receiving the insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008
Born1946 or 1947 [1]
Waipa District, Waikato, New Zealand
Awards New Zealand Order of Merit (2008)
Scientific career
Fields Environmental psychology, intellectual disability, autism spectrum
Institutions University of Canterbury, University of Otago, University of Waikato
Thesis
  • The effects of different residential environments on the behaviour of intellectually handicapped adults (unpublished) (1983)

Olive Webb ONZM (born 1946 or 1947) is a New Zealand clinical psychologist and former president of the New Zealand Psychological Society from 1993 until 1995. Webb's experiences of poor patient conditions and treatment while working at Sunnyside Hospital in the 1970s inspired her to become a disability advocate. She received the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008, for services to people with intellectual disabilities. Webb is the longest-serving member of the Canterbury District Health Board, holding a position on the board from 2001 to 2013.

Contents

Biography

Webb was born in 1946 or 1947, in rural Waipa District south of Te Awamutu. [1] Her mother would hold annual parties for the residents of the Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital, and during high school and her early years at university, Web worked as a nurse aide at the hospital. [1] She attended Te Awamutu College and the University of Waikato, where she studied geography. [2]

Webb became frustrated with well-intentioned volunteers at the hospital, deciding to gain qualifications to better help residents of the hospital. Webb shifted to the South Island, studying clinical psychology at the University of Canterbury. [1] In 1968, Webb began working at Sunnyside Hospital, a Christchurch mental asylum, as an assistant clinical psychologist. [3] [1] She spent 27 years working at the facility, during which she developed major concerns for patients' wellbeing, noting that staff had not received adequate training, and that patients were mistreated and understimulated, often spending much of their time unoccupied in cramped rooms. [1] [4] While working for the hospital, Webb completed a PhD in 1984, and a Post Graduate Diploma of Health Services Management in 1992. [2]

Webb was appointed the Manager of the Psychiatric Service for adults with intellectual disability at Sunnyside Hospital, the first non-medical professional to be appointed in this role. During this time, Webb reduced the number of in-patients at the hospital from 150 to 25, by developing community care plans for patients. [5] [1] Webb also advocated for better medical checks for people with intellectual disabilities, after contributing to research which showed that 73% of patients in the study required medical care. [5] Webb's work was a major factor in the deinstitutionalisation of New Zealand's mental health services, which led to psychiatric hospitals closing and being replaced with community mental health services. [1]

From 1993 until 1995, Webb was the president of the New Zealand Psychological Society. [6] In the 1990s, Webb moved from West Melton (where she had lived for 25 years) to Hororata, [2] where she became a community leader. [7]

In January 2001, Webb was elected as one of the inaugural members of the Canterbury District Health Board, [1] during which she worked on developing the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003. [8] When Webb stood down in 2013, she became the longest-serving member of the board. [9] [1] In the same year, Webb ran an unsuccessful bid to become the mayor of Selwyn District, coming second to incumbent Kelvin Coe. [10]

Since 2020, Webb has worked with Living Options, a charitable trust supporting people with disabilities in the Queenstown-Lakes District. [11]

In 2022, Webb took part in the Abuse in Care – Royal Commission of Inquiry, during which she likened treatment disabled people experienced in psychiatric care to World War II concentration camps. [3]

Webb has been a trustee, chair or board member for a number of community trusts, including New Zealand Riding for the Disabled, Special Olympics New Zealand, Central Plains Water Trust, Hororata Community Trust and Selwyn Central Community Care Trust. [5]

Awards

In 2008, Webb received the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to people with intellectual disabilities, due to her work on deinstitutionalisation and the development of community mental health services. [8] In 2018, Webb was given the Distinguished Service award by the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability. [5]

Personal life

Webb identifies as a lesbian. She entered a civil union with her long-time partner Carol Gurney in 2004. [1] Webb was an organist for the St John's Church in Hororata until the organ was destroyed in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. Since then, she has performed piano for the church, and sings in the Selwyn Community Choir. [2] [12]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Physical restraint</span> Obstruction of physical movement

Physical restraint refers to means of purposely limiting or obstructing the freedom of a person's bodily movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mental health</span> Level of psychological well-being

Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. According to World Health Organization (WHO), it is a "state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community". It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health includes subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, intergenerational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others. From the perspectives of positive psychology or holism, mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and to create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how one defines "mental health". Some early signs related to mental health difficulties are sleep irritation, lack of energy, lack of appetite, thinking of harming oneself or others, self-isolating, and frequently zoning out.

The Lanterman–Petris–Short (LPS) Act regulates involuntary civil commitment to a mental health institution in the state of California. The act set the precedent for modern mental health commitment procedures in the United States. The bipartisan bill was co-authored by California State Assemblyman Frank D. Lanterman (R) and California State Senators Nicholas C. Petris (D) and Alan Short (D), and signed into law in 1967 by Governor Ronald Reagan. The Act went into full effect on July 1, 1972. It cited seven articles of intent:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Peak Hospital</span> Hospital in New Territories, Hong Kong

Castle Peak Hospital is the oldest and largest psychiatric hospital in Hong Kong. Located east of Castle Peak in Tuen Mun, the hospital was established in 1961. It has 1,156 beds, providing a wide variety of psychiatric services such as adult psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychogeriatric services, child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry and substance abuse treatments. All wards in the hospital are equipped to accommodate both voluntary and involuntary admitted patients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deinstitutionalisation</span> Replacement of psychiatric hospitals

Deinstitutionalisation is the process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less isolated community mental health services for those diagnosed with a mental disorder or developmental disability. In the late 20th century, it led to the closure of many psychiatric hospitals, as patients were increasingly cared for at home, in halfway houses and clinics, in regular hospitals, or not at all.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital</span> Hospital in New Zealand

Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital was a psychiatric hospital located approximately 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) south of Te Awamutu, New Zealand.

Hawksbury, also known as Cherry Farm, is a small residential and industrial area in New Zealand, located beside State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Waikouaiti.

Sanism, saneism, mentalism, or psychophobia refers to the systemic discrimination against or oppression of individuals perceived to have a mental disorder or cognitive impairment. This discrimination and oppression are based on numerous factors such as stereotypes about neurodiversity. Mentalism impacts individuals with autism, learning disorders, ADHD, FASD, bipolar, schizophrenia, personality disorders, stuttering, tics, intellectual disabilities, and other cognitive impairments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunatic asylum</span> Place for housing the insane, an aspect of history

The lunatic asylum, insane asylum or mental asylum was an early precursor of the modern psychiatric hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hororata</span> Settlement in Canterbury, New Zealand

Hororata is a village at the northwestern edge of the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 15 kilometres southwest of Darfield, five kilometres south of Glentunnel, and 50 kilometres west of Christchurch, on the banks of the Hororata River. Hororata, when translated from Maori means "drooping rata". There are a large number of rata growing in the district.

Patient abuse or patient neglect is any action or failure to act which causes unreasonable suffering, misery or harm to the patient. Elder abuse is classified as patient abuse of those older than 60 and forms a large proportion of patient abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Department of Mental Hygiene</span>

The Department of Mental Hygiene (DMH) is a component of the New York state government composed of three autonomous offices:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaview Asylum</span> Hospital in South Island, New Zealand

The Seaview Asylum was a psychiatric hospital located to the north of Hokitika, in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island, adjacent to the former Westland Hospital. Open from 1872 to 2009, Seaview trained psychiatric nurses and was once the town's biggest employer.

This disability rights timeline lists events outside the United States relating to the civil rights of people with disabilities, including court decisions, the passage of legislation, activists' actions, significant abuses of people with disabilities, and the founding of various organizations. Although the disability rights movement itself began in the 1960s, advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities started much earlier and continues to the present.

Mental health in the Philippines is a survey of the status of psychological, psychiatric, and emotional health care in the Philippines from both past and present programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disability in Ghana</span>

Disability in Ghana has a massive amount of stigma; children or people who are born disabled or deformed are assumed to be possessed by evil spirits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canterbury District Health Board</span> District health board in New Zealand

The Canterbury District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Canterbury region of New Zealand, north of the Rangitata River. It was responsible for roughly 579,000 residents, or 12% of New Zealand's population. The Canterbury District Health Board covered a territory of 26,881 square kilometers and was divided between six territorial local authorities. In July 2022, the Canterbury DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mental health in New Zealand</span> Mental health in New Zealand

Mental health in New Zealand generally follows the trends of mental health in other OECD countries. New Zealand's 'outdoor life style' and high standard of living are balanced by isolation and a self-reliant culture, which discourages asking for help. Historically, people with mental health problems were institutionalised, whereas now the focus is on care in the wider community. The stigma around poor mental health has been lessened in recent years as a result of this change and public education campaigns. However, New Zealand's minorities and youth continue to be over-represented in the negative mental health statistics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hororata Highland Games</span> Scottish game event festival hosted in New Zealand

The Hororata Highland Games is an annual event held in Hororata, New Zealand. The Games began in 2011, following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. The Hororata community had a desire to make a positive change following the damage of the Canterbury earthquakes. The annual event has increased in popularity with 10,000 people coming to the 2016 edition. It has since become New Zealand's biggest Scottish festival.

William D. Partlow Developmental Center, also known as the Partlow State School and Hospital, was a state school for people with mental disabilities, primarily intellectual and developmental disabilities in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. It was operated by the Alabama Department of Mental Health. It was the last such full-sized facility operated by the State of Alabama and closed in 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Strong advocate for those with no voice". Stuff . 20 April 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Trustees". Central Plains Water Trust . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 Shivas, Olivia (13 July 2022). "Abuse in Care: Institution for disabled people compared to 'concentration camps'". Stuff . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. Dine, Jonty (21 July 2022). "NZers should be ashamed of depraved treatment of disabled people, IHC worker says". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Previous Award Winners". ASID. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  6. "Our History – ā tātou pūrākau". New Zealand Psychological Society . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  7. Wright, Michael (28 March 2011). "Publican calls time at quake-damaged hotel". Stuff . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Olive Webb". Governor-General of New Zealand . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  9. Stylianou, Georgina (13 July 2022). "Mental healthcare moves out of hospital". Stuff . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  10. "Local Body Elections 2013". Selwyn District Council . 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 15 November 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  11. Roxburgh, Tracey (14 November 2020). "$100,000 award hugely enables charity". Otago Daily Times . Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  12. Ussher, Jane; McKay, Bill (6 November 2015). "Photo essay: Inside New Zealand's most spectacular churches". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 8 March 2023.